May 20, 2015
Hayati AbdulResource Librarian (Sociology)
ObjectivesTo show you how to :
Conduct a search for scholarly materials via Sociology databases
Scopus Sociological Abstracts
Access E-NewspapersFactivaLexisNexis Academic
Search catalogue, LINC
OutlineSources for ResearchSearch Strategy
Boolean Operators & more
Search Databases, E-NewspapersLINCGetting Help
Scholarly journalsEvaluate Sources
Interpret References
Sources of information
Scholarly JournalsResearch
type
Mostly original
Article selection
Authors
Intended audience
Writing style
Appearance
References
Purpose
Academics,researchers,graduates &
undergraduates
Academics & researchers in the field
“Peer reviewed“ by scholars
Make original research available
to scholarly world
Contain bibliographies, footnotes & works cited
Serious withgraphs, charts
to illustrate concepts
Full of terminology,
Formal
Evaluate Sources
• Author’s experience• Any institutional affiliation?
Is it a reputable publisher, society or association?
• Methods of research?• Are there means to verify the data?
Is there a range of viewpoints to support / reinforce arguments ?
Is it the latest? How frequent is the update?
• Peer reviewed• how often has it be cited by others?
Scholarly publication
7 evaluationcriteria Authority
& credibility of sources
Academic merit of sources
Accuracy of factual information
Comprehensiveness of information
Relevance of information
Currency of information
Is it relevant to your topic/subject?
Interpret referencesJournal article
Teo, Y. 2010. "Shaping the Singapore family, producing the state and society." Economy and Society 39(3):337-359.
Article title
Author
Journal title
Year
Volume(issue no.)Pages
Interpret referencesBook chapter
Chan, P.C.W. 2010. "Shared values of Singapore: sexual minority rights as Singaporean value“. Pp. 9-26 in Protection of sexual minorities since Stonewall: progress and stalemate in developed and developing countries , edited by Phil C.W. Chan. London: Routledge.
Author ofBook chapter
Publication year
Title of book chapterPages
Sourcetitle
Place ofpublication
Source editor
PublisherPublisher
Boolean OperatorsTruncation
Parentheses
Build your searchList keywords, synonyms to describe your topic:
E.g. Challenges of parenting among single dadssingle dad = single fatherparenting= nurture, child rearing, parenthood
Refine or broaden search using:Boolean operatorsTruncation/wildcard featuresParentheses ( )
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Boolean operators AND
OR
NOT
Single fathers parenting
family life family structure
Parenting
styles
Academic outcomes
Both terms must appear
Both terms must appear
One term may appearbut not the other
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AND
O R
(To narrow search)
(To broaden search)
TruncationFor variation in spelling
blog** =bloggingging, bloggergers, blogs s parent** = parenthoodhood, parentinging, parentss
Note: Different databases use different wildcard symbols examples:
$ ? !$ ? !Check database guides, help menu...
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Parentheses ( )Use ( ) for grouping words or phrases that are to be processed first, examples:
((low income OR single)) AND families
= low income families single parent families
((teen** OR adolescenadolescen*)*) AND pregnancy
= teenage pregnancy adolescent pregnancy
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SCOPUSSOCIOLOGICAL ABSTRACTS
Several ways to access databases from Library Portal
Sociology Databases
MultidisciplinaryIndexing database (no full text)Usually offers links to full text Good design, useful tools and easy to useCan search across Sociological Abstracts
Scopus
April 12, 2023 17
Let’s searchSingle mum versus single dad!Who makes a better a parent?
single father,single mother
children
single father AND single mother AND parent* AND children
parent*
Search Scopus
Enter Search terms
Select Social Sciences
Scopus Search Results
View full-text
Check source title in LINC
View abstract via
Sociological Abstracts
Click to sort by relevance
May refine results by Source, Author, Year, Document type, Subject Area
Output ResultsOutput selected records
Mark
Records
Create Bibliography - QuickBib
Create a Bibliography - QuickBib
Let’s searchAsian values and
state of the Singapore family
Asian values, cultural values
singapore
(asian values OR cultural values OR social values )
AND family AND singapore
family
Search Scopus
Let’s search…Unpaid work, such as caring for children and
housework, is often the women’s responsibility. Why?
unpaid work,
unpaid labour
women AND (unpaid work OR unpaid labour) AND
(caring AND children) OR childcare
childcare
caringwomen children
Let’s search
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Tips for searching ScopusBasic Search
Search defaults to Article title, Abstract & Keywords fields Refine results to narrow search.Combine via Search HistoryIntegration with CSA databases including
Sociological Abstracts
Select to read abstract via Sociological Abstracts where you may continue to search.
Advanced SearchAdvanced Search Command Line search not really recommended.
Sociology Databases Sociological Abstracts
Good for literature review in SociologyProvides indexes & abstracts to journal articles, book chapters, conference papers & dissertations.Coverage, 1979-
Culture, social structure, social differentiation, social psychology, sociology of the arts, business, education, studies in violence and power …
Search LINC for full-texts
Let’s searchDiscuss the ways in which globalization
affects family life?
globali*
family life
globali*AND family life
Ways to access Sociological Abstracts
Access Sociological Abstracts
Search Sociological Abstracts
Enter search terms
Can search by specific field e.g.
keyword from drop-down list
Sociological Abstracts Search Results
Sort by relevance
View full record
Mark Records
Output selected records
Results displayed by publication types
Full Record
Check publication type
Search source title in LINC
Descriptors are subject headings
Let’s search…For better or for worse:
young adults’ perceptions on marriage and social well-being
well-being
marriage
marriage AND well-being AND young adults
young adults
Let’s search…
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Advanced SearchAdvanced SearchRecommended for complex searchesUse Boolean operators from the drop-down listsUse drop-down menus to select specific fields:
Anywhere, Keywords, Author, Title, Descriptors…Check for relevant keywords to help refine search
Quick SearchQuick Search Recommended for searching single words or phrasesSearches for terms occurring anywhere including reference if availableEnter Boolean operators & parentheses in search box.
Search Tips for Sociological Abstracts
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Search Tips for Sociological AbstractsLimitsLimits
By date, latest update, journal articles, language
Search resultsDisplayed by All Publication TypesMay sort by Most recent or or Relevance
To refocus searchSelect Edit Search
QuickBibCreate bibliography in ASA, APA styles…
FactivaLexisNexis Academic
Ways to access Factiva or LexisNexis Academic
E-NewspapersFactiva
To search for/browse:Local, international or global news stories on a daily basis, or by selecting particular dates
New York Times, Asian Wall Street Journal, Bangkok Post…
Stories from a specific news source e.g. Straits Times…News stories by subjects (e.g. equity markets, airlines, investment analysis, international news feedsLatest headlines from a selected country’s newspapers.
Let’s searchThe impact of Singapore’s
family-oriented policies on the individual
pro-family,family
oriented
singapore
(pro family OR family oriented)AND (government OR polic*) AND
singapore
government, polic*
Search Factiva
Factiva Search Results
LexisNexis Academic News
English and non-English language newspapers and news magazines, TV and radio program transcripts, wire services, blogs, trade publications, and public opinion research.
Legal informationBusiness information:
Directories, trade publications, industry research reports, etc.
Country information Country risk reports, BBC news summaries, Global Insight, etc.
Let’s searchWhat can the state do to bring about
higher rates of marriage and childbearing?
fertility, births,
marriage
singapore
( fertility OR births OR marriage)AND government AND singapore
government
LexisNexis Academic - Easy Search
LexisNexis Search Results
LexisNexis Full-text
LexisNexis – News Search
LexisNexis – News Search
LexisNexis – News Search
LexisNexis Results List
News Search – Full-text
Why Cite?Subject Guides
FAQLION
American Sociological Association Citation Style
GuidesAmerican Sociological Association. ASA style guideQuick style guide for students writing Sociology papersA guide to writing Sociology papers
Show research done
Help readers verify your Help readers verify your claimsclaims
Backup your Backup your argumentsarguments
Acknowledge intellectual debt
Why Why Cite?Cite?
Subject Guides
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